Two Gods or One

Quote: Dalex64

But instead, it looks like just another case of one representative of a religion telling every other religion that he is right and they are wrong.

No it is me just trying to tell you to use your common sense and look at the true context of the quote and many other passages of Scripture that would help you better understand what Jesus is really teaching.

Quote:

Let's see... Joseph Smith was a real person. We have eyewitness testimony of the things he did. Everyone else is wrong. I think that covers all of the bases.

He was a real person, there is no eyewitness testimony of the things he did such as read the golden plates (which no one saw). He is historically wrong about the albino Native Americans, the history of the early Church, and many other things. I think that about covers it.

Quote: FrGamble

He was a real person, there is no eyewitness testimony of the things he did such as read the golden plates (which no one saw).

Did anyone other than imaginary people in a fictional Exodus story see the stone tablets Moses allegedly brought down from Mt. Sinai?

Funny how you fail to question one crazy religious story but are atheistic towards the others.

Can I interest you in a new religion? Your old one is worn and threadbare.


First Tenet: One should strive to act with compassion and empathy towards all creatures in accordance with reason.



You can find more here: http://thesatanictemple.com/about-us/tenets/

Even by Vegas standards this is pretty awesome. I would check out this casino church. People look like ants at the front door.

Quote: FrGamble

If the Bible was this one verse taken out of context

But Dalex put it in context, and it comes
out 'call no man father'. The Church wants
to ignore it because it doesn't suit their
needs. You don't think Protestant preachers
would love being called father? It's the
ultimate ego boost of a title. It gets you
instant respect and instant credibility.

Hemingway had a huge ego, and always
wanted way more respect at an early age
than he deserved. When he was 27, his
son called him papa. One of Hemingway's
older friends started calling Ernest 'papa'
and it stuck. It gave him an air of authority
and maturity that he loved. He started calling
women he knew 'daughter', even if they were
much older than him. He was called papa by
everybody from then on.

It's very clever of the Church to twist it around
so they can use father in a way not sanctioned
in scripture. But it's all made up nonsense anyway,
who really cares.

Quote: Evenbob

But Dalex put it in context, and it comes
out 'call no man father'.

No he did not. In fact he had the addresses of the quote wrong and no one besides the excellent link he provided has dealt with the other times Christ Himself used the word father or when St. Paul does it throughout his writings. I don't see why you aren't getting this.

Quote:

The Church wants
to ignore it because it doesn't suit their
needs. You don't think Protestant preachers
would love being called father?

I don't know it means you get paid nothing, or close to it, and you take on the responsibility to give up your own family so that you can be a true spiritual father available anytime day or night for your people.

Quote: FrGamble

I don't know it means you get paid nothing, or close to it,

"Diocesan priests on average receive an annual salary and reimbursement for ministry expenses of $24,000 per year. Diocesan priests also receive room and board at their assignments, health and dental insurance coverage, and support for continuing education and an annual retreat."

If you figure in the rent they never pay,
and free insurance and other benefits,
that's easily $35K a year, or more. That's
hardly 'almost nothing'.

Then there's this:

"As with any vocation, location affects salaries, and priests are no exception. In Los Angeles, for example, a Catholic priest averages $57,593 a year, reports the Economic Research Institute. Those in New York City also make more than most, averaging $45,125 a year, while an Atlanta-based priest can expect a salary of $40,149 a year. The same, however, can’t be said for Catholic priests in Dallas, Texas, where salaries average out at $33,279 a year."

Quote:

and you take on the responsibility to give up your own family so that you can be a true spiritual father available anytime day or night for your people.

Other than the give up your own family part,
all ministers are available at all times for their
people, it's what they get paid for. And they
often have to support a family and they make
about the same as you do.

Quote: Evenbob

Other than the give up your own family part,
all ministers are available at all times for their
people, it's what they get paid for. And they
often have to support a family and they make
about the same as you do.

I think you should ask your brother-in-law about this one.

Quote: FrGamble

I think you should ask your brother-in-law about this one.

I notice you didn't address the you
'make almost nothing' part of the
post. What priests and ministers
make is listed all over the place.

I know my bro in law is available
at all hours, he's talked about it
before. He also gives regular counseling
out of his office.

Quote: Evenbob

I notice you didn't address the you
'make almost nothing' part of the
post. What priests and ministers
make is listed all over the place.

I think your quote of $35K is about right with everything considered. You are right it is not "next to nothing" and I certainly am not in it for the money. One thing I do love about the priesthood is that no matter what your pay stays the same. Have the biggest Church in the Archdiocese or a small country Church it doesn't matter. There is no moving up the ladder or moving to another bigger Church to get more money.

Quote:

I know my bro in law is available
at all hours, he's talked about it
before. He also gives regular counseling
out of his office.

That is great and many of my Protestant brothers and sisters work very hard at their ministry. However, I think you can still see how much more time I have to dedicate to my ministry without the noble and beautiful responsibility of caring for a wife and family. Also I don't have any restrictions if my wife or children or sick or need me to spend the quality time they deserve with them.

Arguing about the use of the term "father" is as productive as arguing about the self-contradictions in the trinity.